The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Uche Ogah, the man who was declared winner of Abia State Governorship Election in a controversial judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal high court.

Ogah was arrested at the premises of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Island.

The Special Fraud Unit of Nigeria Police had arraigned him and three others before the court over allegation of forgery, but on Monday, the police told the court that it was withdrawing the charges.

The Prosecutor, Henri Obasi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, informed the court that the withdrawal of the charge against all the defendants was at the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and pursuant to section 73(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The presiding Chief Magistate, Kikelomo Ayeye, struck out the charges and discharged the defendants. However, as he was stepping out of the court premises, Ogah was whisked away by some men who claimed to be operatives of the EFCC.

Recall that on June 27, Justice Abang had ruled that Ogah should be issued a certificate of return as the Governor of Abia State, stating that Okezie Ikpeazu was not qualified to have run for the office, having tendered fake tax documents during his party’s screening exercise in 2015.

The ruling was appealed by Ikpeazu and the Appeal court ordered that status quo be maintained pending the determination of the case.